ST. PATRICK’S SPORTS

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 364, 14 March 1902, Page 3

ST. PATRICK’S SPORTS

ANNUAL GATHERING,

Beautiful weather prevailed yesterday afternoon for the St. Patrick’s Day Sports,

which were held on the Park Company’s grounds at To Hapara. Business premises wero closed at noon, and this fact helped greatly to swell the satisfactory attendance. Two capable secretaries in Messrs J. H. Martin and Ed. Williams had charge of tho management, and the arrangements were perfect. The Rev. T. Mulvihill, President of the Society, took an active part in promoting the success of the meeting, while a large and energetic committee kept the machinery running smoothly down to the smallest detail. Mr W. Miller acted as starter of the foot-races, and Mr W. G. Watson filled a similar position for tho horse events. Messrs B. N. Jones, J. Nisbett, and Wildish judged the running events, and Mr D. J. Barry acted as judge of the horse events. Mr A. W. Bees made a capable referee. Mr J. E. Whitby acted as clerk of the scales, and Mr D. Hepburn was time-keeper. Tho course had undergone considerable preparation, under tho supervision of Messrs J. Bosie and G. F. Hender-

son, and was in excellent order. The Gisborne Rifles Band added greatly to the enjoyment of the large crowd which patronised the grandstand throughout the afternoon. Tho national colors of the

Emerald Isle wore very conspicuous on tho ground, and added greatly to the

picturesqueness of tho animated sceno. The foot races were keenly contested, and some fine finishes were witnessed, particularly in the 410 yards and mile events. A feature of the gathering was the success of the younger athletes, which proves that

the district is producing a number of most promising pedestrians. A. Morris annexed tho St. Patrick’s Handicap, and Gordon Witty took second place. Both these competitors are mere youths, and their performances would have reflected credit on much older performers on the track. The horse events saw largo fields face the starter, but the winners in the majority of

the events took no risks, and made too sure of victory to make the finishes exciting. Tho committee saw that the juveniles did not leave the ground without their share of prizes, and numerous races for boys and girls were arranged during the afternoon. A merry-go-round, in charge of Mr John Somervell, was largely patronised by the children, and not even a temporary break-down daunted them from keeping it busily employed. The gathering was in ovory way a most pronounced success, and the arrangements reflect the highest credit on tho management. The following were the results : Boys’ race, under 16, 120yds, first prize 10s, second ss, 10 entries: B. Boyd 1, B. Wyllie 2, B. Boe 3. Girls’ Handicap, under 14, 100yds, first 10s, second 5s : Katherine Martin 1, Mary Martin 2.

St, Patrick’s Handicap, of .£2O, to be run in three distances, viz., 100, 220, and 440 yards, with prizes for each distance, and aggregate prize of gold medal, suitably inscribed ; points for medal, first 5 points, second 3, and third 2 points. First event, 100yds, in heats, first prize £3, second 255, third 10s. — The first heat resulted: A. Morris, syds, 1; A. Curtis, 7yds, 2; B. Siddolls, Byds, 3. W. Jobson, 6yds, also started. Time, 10 2-5. Second heat:

This lapsed, only M. Craig and B. Brown putting in an appearance. Third heat, J. Parsons, 10yds, 1; H. Atkins, syds, 2 ; B. Doar, 6yds, 3. Also started, O. H. McKechnie syds, S. Goldsmith 7yds, J. Newton Byds. Final: A. Morris 1, A. Curtis 2, J. Parsons 3. Time, 104. Won by a yard and a hall, the others following in a bunch.

Pony Race (14.2 and under), 4 furlong, first prizo £2 10s, second 10s : J. O'Grady’s Miss Kruger (Stevo Malone) 1, Mr W. Martin’s Uina (C. Reidy) 2, D. FJeere’s Snider 3. A fiell of thirteen faced the starter, and after a great deal of trouble at the post, Uma got the best of the start, but was soon overtaken by Miss Kruger, and the pair raced in company for some distance. Miss Kruger eventually drew clear, and came home under the whip a dozen lengths to the good. Time, 534. St. Patrick’s Handicap, 220 yards : G. Witty, 17yds, 1 ; Morris, 9yds, 2; J. Parsons, 22yds, 3. Also started —B. Siddells 17yds, H. Atkins 10yds, M. Craig 10yds, W. Jobson 10yds, A. Curtis 14yds. From a good start, Witty went to the front, and was never headed, though Morris made a plucky effort, end was only a yard behind on the tape. Parsons was a good'third. Time, 24 secs. Three-quarter Milo Scurry, first prize Ho, second 111 Is, for horses that have n

ever won a race exceeding £5 in value : Mr Benney’s Sheelawee (Parker) 1, Mr D. McKenzie’s Seaforth (C. Reidy) 2, Mr H. Kane’s Starline (R. Coughlan) 3. Also ran—Blackbird, Rosina, Signet, Vesper, and Springston. On the fall of the flag, Sheelawee showed a clean pair of heels, and came in hard held and alone, a challenge from Seaforth in the straight being easily shaken off. Time, 1.22. Handicap Trotting Race. —First prize i 4, second ill ; twice round the course : Mr W. J. Bigg’s Kanapa (Webb) 1, Mr J. H. Ormond’s Blue Maud 2, Mr Martin’s Arai 3. A large field of about seventeen faced the starter. Kanapa maintained his liberal handicap from the start, and had a long lead on the first round, which he increased, and won as he liked. The winner was ridden by A. Webb. Time 6.50.

220 Yards Hurdles, over ten flights; first prize £i, second 10s: J. Parsons, 15yds, 1; A. Curtis, 7yds, 2; W. Bougen, 10yds, 8. Also started : Atkins scr, Newton syds, A. MeGreavy 7yds, R. Brown 7yds. Parsons, from the 15yds mark, won easily, jumping in good style. Time

32 secs. Hospital Race Handicap, 200 yards; first prize £2 2s, second ill Is : Mr G. E. Eliott 1, Mr B, N. Jones 2. A couple of hundred entries had been received for this race, but only about a dozen faced the starter. The fact that Eliott and Jones were known by the cognoscenti to be very tit caused scores of those who otherwise might have started to scratch. Jones, from a crouching attitude, was very quick off the mark, but Eliott came with a giant stride, and a desperate struggle down the straight was witnessed between the pair, Eliott just tottering on to the tape in front of Jones by the eighth of an inch. Half-mile Handicap, first prize X 3 10s, second £1 10s : T. Sharp, 10yds, 1 ; IV. Green, 60yds, 2; S. Roderick, 60yds, 3. Also ran: Oman 50yds, Bowen 35yds, O’Meara 35yds, Morris 10yds. On entering the straight, Green showed up prominently, but Sharp came strongly, and won by about eight yards. A dog baulked Green some distance from the winning-post, or the finish would have been much closer. Time 2.27. Horse - jumping Competition. First prize £o 10s, second ill Is, third 10s; Mr Priestly’s Kerekereroa 1, Mr Habfrood’s Tea-rose 2, Mr Bennett’s Serenader 3. Faughaballagh, No Name, Tallyho, Bay Belie, Matuki, and Blackbird also competed. This event caused a great deal of interest, and some excellent jumping was witnessed, the horses all taking the obstacles in good style, and giving the judges a difficult task to make a selection. St. Patrick's Handicap, third distance, 4-10 yds.—First prize £5, second £2, third ,£1 ■ A. Morris, 15yds, 1 ; G. Witty, 25yds, 9- B Siddells, 23yds, 3. Also started; H. Atkins (18yds), B. Doar (20yds) M. Craig (20yds), A. Curtis (2b, yds), W. Jobson (23yds). Morris and Witty early put in a strong claim, and a splendid race resulted, ia Morris beating Witty, who ran a plucky race, on the tapo by Siddells was a fair third. Time, 55 35. Half-mile Scurry, for horsesJihat have never won a race exceeding -£5 in value. First prize £o, second £1 Is : Mr Benney s Sheelawee 1, Seaforth 2, Eosina 3. Also started: Uma, Blackbird, J. Governor, Bluejacket, Cocotogo, Starline, Squib, Screwjack, Springston, and Stich. From an indifferent start Uma got well away, but was soon headed by Sheelawee, who came in hard held about a length to the good of Seaforth, while Eosina was close up third. Time, 541. One Mile Handicap; first prize £3, second £2, third XI.—T. Nicholson,7oyds, 1 ; T. Sharp, scr, 2 ; V. Somervell, 60yds, 3. Also started: A. Kent 40yds, F. Harrison 50yds, L. Bowen 50yds, E. Boult 90yds, and W. Green 100yds. A good finish was witnessed between Nicholson and Sharp, the former just lasting long enough to win. Time, 5.8,